Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is one of the most important crops for human nutrition in the tropics, especially for low-income populations. This study aimed at to evaluate and select elite clones of sweet cassava regarding to chemical, agronomic and technological aspects, twelve clones of Instituto Agronômico breeding program were compared to control variety IAC 576-70 as to yield of roots, cooking, time, cyanogen compounds, total carotenoids, β-carotene, vitamin A and mineral components. Ten clones showed high yields. Average cooking time was high, 43.8 minutes. Among clones, only 66/99 showed content of cyanogen compounds (160.1 mg eq. HCN kg-1) above the limit (100 mg eq. HCN kg-1) for safety consumption. Clone 108/00 presented the highest content of total carotenoids, β-carotene and vitamin A, respectively, 1108.1 µg 100 g-1, 940.1µg 100g-1 and 523 IU 100 g-1, higher than the control. Two clones showed zinc and iron content respectively 44% and 53% higher than the control variety. Considering yield, cooking, low content of cyanogens mineral components, carotenoids and vitamin A, clone 265/97 is the most promising genotype as a potential new variety.
Manihot esculenta Crantz; productivity; cyanogens; cooking time; nutrition; carotenoids; vitamin A; mineral components
